Humira’s main patent is void in December, allowing for competition from the handful of companies producing cheaper biosimilar versions of Humira, including Redwood City, Calif.-based Coherus Biosciences, Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim and Thousand Oaks, Calif.–based Amgen.
Amgen is the first company to seek U.S. approval with its drug ABP 501. Last Friday, Food and Drug Administration officials said that Amgen’s drug had similar potency and safety as Humira. On Tuesday, a panel of medical advisers will determine whether or not to recommend approval for ABP 501. If approved, Amgen expects to launch the drug by 2018.
While AbbVie’s main patent will be void this winter, the North Chicago, Ill.-based company said other patents will prevent the introduction of biosimilar forms of Humira until 2022.
“There will be litigation back and forth, but we think these biosimilars will be launched and probably do more damage to Humira than [Wall Street] is expecting,” said Damien Conover, an analyst at Chicago-based Morningstar.
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